While the current status of the recovery and maintenance program for the Russian Navy’s aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov remains uncertain, this has not prevented the fighters of its embarked air wing from continuing to be deployed on surveillance patrols and training missions. This is evidenced by the most recent exercises carried out by MiG-29K/KUB fighters on the Kola Peninsula and in the Barents Sea.
Since April 8, and amid the growing strategic importance of the Arctic for Russia, the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy has confirmed the start of new drills in the region. According to reports, the activities involve the participation of 1,300 personnel, deployed across 20 ships, submarines, support units, and combat aircraft.
Among the latter are the carrier-based MiG-29K/KUB fighter jets, which belong to the Embarked Air Group (GAE) of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. As previously reported, the vessel remains out of service and is undergoing a recovery and maintenance program.
Despite repeated announcements from officials and military spokespeople, the program has faced persistent delays since it began in 2017. For example, in early 2023, Alexey Rakhmanov, CEO of the Russian shipbuilding conglomerate United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), stated that work on Russia’s only aircraft carrier would be completed in 2024—a deadline that has not been met.
These ongoing delays in restoring the ship to operational condition can be partially explained by the various setbacks it has faced. As we reported previously, the Admiral Kuznetsov has suffered “… a number of incidents since 2017. Among them: the collapse and sinking of the PD-50 floating dock at the 82nd Ship Repair Plant in October 2018, and a major fire that broke out in December 2019.”
Nevertheless, as noted, aircraft from the ship’s air wing continue to be used by the Russian Navy in exercises and surveillance missions in the far north of the country, as well as in other locations.
The latest exercises took place as part of the drills launched on April 8, during which MiG-29K/KUBs were reportedly used as mock attackers simulating strikes on critical infrastructure and facilities. These were defended by Russian naval formations using their air defense systems.
“The crews of the multirole MiG-29K fighters conducted aerial combat training against maneuverable and non-maneuverable targets, practicing both basic and advanced flight maneuvers at various altitudes,” the Northern Fleet stated.
It was also reported that the exercise served to train new groups of pilots—though it was not specified whether this included carrier-based MiG-29s—who carried out their first patrol and air interception missions.
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